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Alison MacNeil

Alison is a musician, writer and artist from Canada. She's lived in Reykjavik since 1999.

4 minute read27 Apr 2017

Where to drink: Bryggjan Brugghús

As I enter the Bryggjan Brugghús out on Grandi, I am greeted by a full wall-size poster for the EVE Fanfest that occurred earlier in the month. It’s not surprising, since the headquarters for CCP in Iceland are right next door. It’s an even more perfect fit considering that the inside of the brewery itself looks like something out a space station.

The brewery is lit up in an assortment of colours, which change on timer adding a constantly shifting background to the dining area where they’ve held all sorts of different events, from concerts during the Iceland Airwaves festival to monthly marketing get-togethers and conferences and, most recently, where GetLocal was invited to check out the “Cheers To Reykjavik” tour.

The decor of the place is very polished with a mixture of bizarre photographs of asylum patients adorning the bathroom stalls and distressed leather couches arranged around little wooden tables. It’s a comfortable place to spend a few hours with friends.

There is also a tour on offer where you can check out the brewery and sample a few of their different beers. This happens to be my local bar, so I can tell you that the “Litla Grís” is the far superior brew if you can manage to get one (it’s often sold out).

The Cheers to Reykjavik tour includes some light food, but not quite enough for a meal, so if you do check that out, we recommend having a bit of dinner first.

The food is bistro style with a bit of an Icelandic twist, meaning there’s quite a lot of fish on the menu. It’s on the expensive side as far as Iceland goes. I usually judge this by the cost of the burger, and at 3.100 ISK, Bryggjan’s is pretty dear. Eating in style comes with a cost, though, and I can definitely recommend their vegan options, which are more numerous than many other restaurants in the city.

Overall, I can recommend this place if you’d like to check out some of the local brewing culture and feel like getting an ice cream afterwards (because the famous Valdís ice cream shop is right around the corner).

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Seyðisfjörður is a small town on the east coast of Iceland. Seyðisfjörður is a small town on the east coast of Iceland worth visiting. It has a lot to offer, beautiful surroundings, magnificent nature and a vibrant art community.

Most people that move to Iceland choose to live in the lively, culture laden capital area of Reykjavík. And maybe in the summer months when the weather is warmer they will venture to the Westfjords for a visit. But unfortunately, most tourists and locals alike miss out on what I find to be the most spectacular region of Iceland.

When travelling by car it is almost by default that travellers follow the beaten track. But why not take the alternative route if possible and add a bit to the unexpected and surprising moments of your travel experience? Nothing ventured, nothing gained! This blog is to describe the Heydalur road, Route 55, which is an alternative way to travel from the south coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula over to the north coast.

Here are some great tours we recommend

Join us for an authentic Icelandic foodie experience & explore the best of Reykjavik like a local! In our Reykjavik Food Walk you will learn about food in Iceland, experience our delicious local cuisine at it’s best.

Here are some great tours we recommend

Join us for an authentic Icelandic foodie experience & explore the best of Reykjavik like a local! In our Reykjavik Food Walk you will learn about food in Iceland, experience our delicious local cuisine at it’s best.